Published
27/02/2026 Ã s 11:56
A NASA space observatory has identified interstellar comet releasing organic molecules associated with pre-biological chemistry in 3I/ATLAS, discovered on July 1, 2025, with data collected by SPHEREx between December 8 and 15, 2025, during its departure from the Solar System.
The detection was made by analyzing the material ejected by the object as it approached the Sun and subsequently crossed the region near Earth’s orbit. Among the compounds identified are methanol, hydrogen cyanide, and methane.
Discovery and classification of the interstellar comet
The 3I/ATLAS object was identified by the automated ATLAS system, which is designed to monitor near-Earth objects.
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After initial confirmation, the body was classified as a rare specimen. interstellar comet, because it formed outside the Solar System.
Objects of this type travel through the space between stars before temporarily entering planetary systems like our own.
The identification of 3I/ATLAS has broadened scientific interest in its origin and composition.
Organic molecules detected in active coma
During its trajectory, the heating caused by its proximity to the Sun generated the formation of an active coma, composed of gas and dust.
This cloud expanded, allowing the release of organic molecules considered fundamental chemical building blocks.
The data show the presence of methanol, cyanide, and methane, substances linked to reactions that can precede the formation of biological structures in suitable environments.
Although they do not represent life, they are understood to be essential components in pre-biological processes.
The role of the SPHEREx telescope in observations.
The SPHEREx space telescope, launched in March 2025, was responsible for capturing the chemical signatures of the interstellar comet.
The equipment operates in the infrared spectrum with the goal of mapping the sky and analyzing the composition of celestial objects.
The observations took place between December 8 and 15, 2025, a period during which 3I/ATLAS was already on an exit trajectory from the Solar System. The records allowed for the identification of the molecules present in the released material.
Scientific implications of the analyses
Experts point out that the study of interstellar comet It offers direct access to the primordial chemical composition of an object formed around another star, possibly billions of years ago.
The presence of these compounds reinforces the hypothesis that complex organic matter may be widely distributed throughout the universe.
The results, however, do not indicate the existence of life in 3I/ATLAS, but they do broaden our understanding of processes that may precede its emergence.
The analyses also highlight that the detection of these molecules in an interstellar visitor expands our understanding of the circulation of organic compounds between star systems.
With information from Adventures in History.